If you also depend on healthy juices, electrolyte drinks or cold drinks available in the market to escape the summer heat, then it is possible that you may be causing more harm to your health than benefiting it. There are many traditional remedies in Indian homes to protect against the summer heat. Our culture has long included a variety of healthy, natural and Ayurveda-based traditional beverages, which not only keep the body cool from within, but also provide essential nutrition and protection from heatstroke. Chef Ranveer Brar has told about some such drinks.
To stay cool during the summer months, instead of reaching for commercially available cold drinks and ice creams, you should look to traditional remedies that have stood the test of time. Although many people are slowly forgetting these old practices, reintroducing them into our daily diet can help us avoid many of the common health problems associated with the summer season. So let’s take a look at these healthy drinks.
Wood Apple Drink
Chef Ranveer Brar explains that the fruit of *Bael* (wood apple) not only gives coolness, but it also contains pulp in abundance, which keeps your stomach full for a long time. Given the intense heat of the Indian summer, it is advisable to consume foods that keep you feeling full, thereby preventing heatstroke. You can also make *Bael Ka Sharbat* an important part of your summer routine. In Ayurveda, both the fruits and leaves of the *Bael* tree are given great importance due to their many medicinal properties. It also helps in maintaining a healthy digestive system, and provides relief from diseases like diarrhea, dysentery, acidity and stomach cramps.
Method of making sherbet
To make *Bael Sharbat*, pluck a ripe *Bael* fruit, take out its pulp, add a little water to it and mash it well with your hands. Remove fibers and seeds from the mixture. Add jaggery (jaggery), black salt and roasted cumin powder as per taste, and then add cold water as required before serving. You can also garnish it with fresh mint leaves and a few drops of lemon juice.
Sattu sherbet
In the summer months, a drink made from *sattu* (roasted gram flour) serves a dual purpose: it keeps the body cool as well as keeps the stomach full. It is also an excellent source of protein. In Ayurveda, *sattu*—a flour made from roasted gram and barley—is considered not only nutritious but also has cooling properties. Especially in Bihar, *Sattu Sharbat* (a refreshing drink) is a popular choice during the summer months. You can make it two different ways: sweet or savory. The salty version is considered even more beneficial, as it includes ingredients like roasted cumin powder, chopped onions, lemon juice, and green chilies—all of which help with everything from improving digestion to warding off heatstroke.
Vitamin C rich drinks
Ayurveda also considers *Amla* (Indian gooseberry) to be extremely beneficial. It offers a wide range of benefits, from skin and hair health to overall well-being. During summers, you can make and drink *Amla* as a refreshing drink. Chef Ranveer Brar has shared a recipe for this drink. First of all, chop the *Amla*. After this, take some *Amba Haldi* (common ginger) or normal ginger and chop it finely. Put both the ingredients in a pan, and add sugar and water as per your choice. Then, add some fennel seeds (*saunf*). Bring the mixture to a boil, let it cool, and then grind it into a smooth paste. Now, grate one fresh *gooseberry* and a small piece of ginger into a large jar. Add a pinch of black pepper powder to this mixture; According to Ayurveda, this combination is extremely beneficial. After this, add the prepared *Amla* paste in the desired quantity. Add ice cubes, add some water, and mix well. Finally, add a pinch of salt, a few mint leaves (crushed by hand), and a little lemon juice. Your Vitamin C rich *Amla Sharbat* is now ready to serve. You can keep this paste safe in the refrigerator for a long time, so that whenever you feel like it, you can prepare a spicy *Amla Sharbat* in a few minutes.
Other Suggested Drinks
Chef Ranveer Brar also suggests two more drinks to keep you healthy during the summer season: one made with *ragi* (finger millet) flour, and the other with *kolam* rice. *Ragi* is a grain whose nature is sometimes described as hot and sometimes cold; However, it is generally believed that its ultimate effect on the body depends entirely on the method used to make it. Precisely for this reason, ragi-based drinks are prepared during the summer season. Apart from this, *Kolam* this ‘Tanka Torani’ drink made from rice is also offered to Lord Jagannath. This summer, make and enjoy all these drinks to cool off and beat the heat.
